Crowd-funding draws donations for Sandy relief

Font ResizeBRETT ZONGKER Associated PressAssociated PressPosted: 12/22/2012 09:06:22 AM MSTDecember 22, 2012 4:12 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 09:12:15 AM MST
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Stray bullet hits Colorado Springs 12-year-old in leg

Font ResizeColorado NewsBy Tom Roeder
The Gazettedenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 10:14:46 AM MSTDecember 22, 2012 5:25 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 10:25:55 AM MST

A 12-year-old boy in southern Colorado Springs was recovering Saturday morning after an "apparently random" shooting left him wounded in the leg.

Police say the boy was inside a home in the 100 block of Murray Boulevard, near Pikes Peak Avenue, when a shots were fired outside just before midnight, blasting the structure. One round hit the boy in the leg.

The boy was hospitalized and expected to survive, police said.

Police were nearby investigating several calls about gunfire in the vicinity of Murray Boulevard and Airport Road when they were called to the home of the injured boy.

Read more on this story in The (Colorado Springs) Gazette.

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No more dashing down 16th Street Mall for this one-horse, open sleigh

Font ResizeCops and CourtsBy Kirk Mitchell
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 09:19:23 AM MSTDecember 22, 2012 6:2 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 11:02:14 AM MST

It was a Christmas-like emergency from the 19th century on the 16th Street Mall.

A horse and carriage crashed — with people trapped. It could have been Dec. 21, 1892. It was nostalgic up until the response.

Big Denver fire engines rushed to the scene with red lights flashing and sirens blaring.

The potential accident victims were tucked into their seats — a bit shaken but not hurt, said Scott Heiss, Denver fire spokesman.

The accident happened along the mall around Curtis and Arapahoe streets at about 10 p.m. Friday.

Passengers were getting a clippity-clop ride down the mall when the carriage suddenly cracked and splintered in half.

The horse-drawn vehicle broke just behind the driver.

The 911 call indicated passengers were trapped under the vehicle.

"It sounded kind of crazy, but luckily no one was hurt," Heiss said.

No one was actually trapped either, Heiss said.

When firefighters, arrived they helped the passengers — still tucked under warm blankets in their seats — climb out of the damaged carriage. Paramedics then looked them over to make sure no one was injured.

And then a tow truck with lights twirling was hooked up to the broken carriage and carted it away, Heiss said.

The horse also was not injured in the accident.

Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, Facebook.com/kmitchelldp or twitter.com/kmitchelldp

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Better watch out: NORAD trademarks Santa operation

Font ResizeBy DAN ELLIOTT Associated PressAssociated PressPosted: 12/22/2012 09:56:06 AM MSTDecember 22, 2012 6:3 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 11:03:55 AM MST
DENVER—The U.S. military has clamped a trademark on its wildly popular NORAD Tracks Santa operation and licensed a private company to sell T-shirts and other goods—not to make money, officials insist, but to keep profiteers from cashing in.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, which stages the Santa-tracking event from its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., obtained the trademark this year.

The Defense Department's Branding and Trademark Licensing Office—yes, Virginia, there is a Pentagon trademark office—advised the military to sell NORAD Tracks Santa merchandise to cement its ownership of the name, said Navy Cmdr. Jeff Davis, a NORAD spokesman.

"We had a vulnerability by not having a NORAD Tracks Santa trademark," Davis said. "The vulnerability was that anyone could come along and sell merchandise or somehow use it to make a profit."

NORAD signed the licensing agreement in November with U.S. Allegiance of Bend, Ore., which specializes in licensed souvenirs and has worked other deals with the military.

The company launched http://www.itrackedsanta.com on Dec. 1. The biggest seller so far is a customized letter from Santa, said Steve Crawford, president of U.S. Allegiance. Another favorite is a red T-shirt that says "I tracked Santa 2012."

To Crawford's surprise, many orders are coming in from overseas. He said he plans to expand the line of goods next year to include languages other than English.

"The globalized popularity of NORAD Tracks Santa is really amazing," he said.

Davis said the move to trademark the operation was unrelated to Google's decision to launch its own Santa tracker this year. NORAD and Google parted ways by mutual agreement after working together from 2007 to 2011, he said.

NORAD is a joint U.S.-Canada command responsible for defending the skies over both countries and monitoring potential threats from the sea.

The story of how it began tracking Santa has become part of Christmas lore: A Colorado Springs newspaper ad in 1955 invited kids to call Santa, but a typo in the phone number had them calling the Continental Air Defense Command or CONAD, NORAD's predecessor, also in Colorado Springs.

CONAD commanders played along, and over the years the operation grew into today's viral hit.

The program generates the kind of global buzz that conjures visions of sugar plums dancing in a marketer's head. Last year its volunteers answered 102,000 phone calls in 23 hours and its website attracted 18.9 million unique visitors from 220 countries and territories in December alone. It also was getting requests from the public for merchandise, Davis said.

NORAD will get about 6 percent of the sales revenue from the merchandise, Davis said. NORAD hasn't projected how much money that will be but it won't be substantial, he said. Through the first three weeks of December, sales netted less than $200, he said.

The money will be used for the program, which Davis said operates solely with volunteers and corporate sponsors and gets zero tax dollars.

———

Online:

NORAD Tracks Santa: http://ww.noradsanta.org

———

Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP

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Jefferson County house fire victim identified

Font ResizeCops and CourtsBy Kirk Mitchell
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 11:34:06 AM MSTDecember 22, 2012 7:7 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 12:07:05 PM MST

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has announced the identity of a 67-year-old man killed in a house fire Thursday night near Pleasant View.

William Edward Alexander's body was found at a home at 1415 Isabell St. on Thursday night about 10:48 p.m.

Chief Deputy Coroner Carl Blesch said the preliminary cause of death is asphyxiation.

Alexander lived alone at the home within unincorporated Jefferson County.

Authorities have said foul play is not suspected.

Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, Facebook.com/kmitchelldp or twitter.com/kmitchelldp

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Byers house fire claims 18 pure bred Chihuahuas

Font Resize9Newsdenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 12:33:05 PM MSTDecember 22, 2012 7:49 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 12:49:05 PM MST

A fire at 3 a.m. Friday in Byers killed 18 pure bred Chihuahuas that the Housely family was raising to be show dogs.

No people were injured, but their house was destroyed and multiple dogs died in the fire on County Road 181.

The family's veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Casebeer from Living Springs Veterinary Care in Bennett, says she's caring for three dogs who survived.

Dr. Casebeer says the owners are James and Marty Housley, who just moved to Byers within the past year.

Read more on this story at 9News.com.

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Stranded snowmobilers found uninjured on Rabbit Ears Pass

Font ResizeColorado NewsBy Matt Stensland
Pilot & Todaydenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 01:16:34 PM MSTDecember 22, 2012 9:7 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 02:07:50 PM MST

Two stranded snowmobilers are fine after spending Friday night on Rabbit Ears Pass.

Routt County Search and Rescue incident commander Kristia Check-Hill said she received a call early Friday evening to help rescuers from Jackson County. Two snowmobilers had called 911 after getting stuck in a meadow northeast of the Rabbit Ears rock formation.

Rescuers from Routt County joined the search at 5 a.m. after overnight search efforts were unsuccessful. A team from Jackson County reached the Front Range snowmobilers by about 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

For more on this story, read the Steamboat Pilot & Today.

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Piano teacher James David Tiner in custody for alleged molestation

Font ResizeCops and CourtsBy Kirk Mitchell
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 01:34:24 PM MSTDecember 22, 2012 9:50 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 02:50:24 PM MST

 A 59-year-old man who allegedly molested an 8-year-old girl during piano lessons in his Palisade home has been arrested after the FBI released his photograph in a multi-state dragnet.

James David Tiner is being held in the Garfield County jail following his arrest near New Castle, said FBI spokesman Dave Joly.

"After seeing the publicity given to accused sexual assault suspect James David Tiner, citizens from Garfield County, Colorado, provided tips to law enforcement that lead to his arrest," Joly said.

Someone called the New Castle Police Department late Friday and described where they believed he was staying.

After authorities confirmed Tiner's location, law enforcement officers from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, the New Castle Police Department and the FBI arrested Tiner around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Joly said.

The FBI sent bulletins to law enforcement in Colorado and Arkansas believing that he may be hiding in the Ozarks in Arkansas. The outdoorsman loved to camp.

Also known as "music Dave," Tiner allegedly molested the girl four times while teaching her piano lessons at his home, Joly said.

The girl's mother contacted police April 16. She reported that the abuse happened between September 2009 and June 2010.

When police searched Tiner's home, they allegedly found multiple videos and photographs of the 8-year-old girl in the nude, while performing sexual acts with Tiner, Joly said.

Additional photographs of unknown pre-pubescent nude females also were allegedly found in Tiner's home, Joly said.

Tiner had listed himself in a local paper as a music teacher for hire.

On April 20, a Colorado arrest warrant was issued for Tiner in Mesa County on charges of sexual assault on a child, sexual assault on a child-pattern of abuse, and sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

He was later charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Tiner is being held without bond in the Garfield County Detention Facility for the Palisade Police Department.

No court date has been set in this case, Joly said.

Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, Facebook.com/kmitchelldp or twitter.com/kmitchelldp

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Fort Carson soldier court-martialed in sex assault case

Font ResizeColorado NewsBy Bob Stephens
The Gazettedenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 02:49:39 PM MSTDecember 22, 2012 9:54 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 02:54:20 PM MST

Army Sgt. Alberto Silva-Sadder was found guilty of multiple charges by a Fort Carson court-martial Friday and sentenced to 35 years in military prison.

According to Maj. Earl Brown, spokesman for Fort Carson's 4th Infantry Division, Silva-Sadder will get a dishonorable discharge when he's served his time.

Silva-Sadder, who was assigned to the post's 10th Combat Support Hospital, was accused by four women in the past three years of sexual misconduct.

After a weeklong trial, a panel of seven Army officers convicted Silva-Sadder on 21 charges, including two counts of aggravated sexual assault, three counts of forcible sodomy, two counts of possession of child pornography and a kidnapping charge.

Read the complete story in The (Colorado Springs) Gazette.

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Jogger chased by mountain lion: I was going to get eaten

Font ResizeColorado NewsBy Will Ripley
9Newsdenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 03:44:06 PM MSTDecember 22, 2012 11:14 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 04:14:21 PM MST

Park rangers are on the lookout for an aggressive mountain lion that approached two people at Cheyenne Mountain State Park on Friday.

Portions of the park will be closed this weekend as rangers try to find and euthanize the mountain lion.

In a matter of seconds, Lindsey Grewe went from jogging on the trail to running for her life when the mountain lion began chasing her.

"I'm screaming, but I don't think anyone heard me. I really thought he was going to attack me, I just had visions of, I see it crossing through my mind that I was going to get eaten," Grewe said.

Friday's encounter follows a Thursday incident in which a hiker and her dog took refuge in an outhouse west of Boulder after being confronted by a mountain lion.

Read the complete story at 9News.com.

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Police hunt for suspects who failed to rob liquor store

Font ResizeColorado NewsBy Garrison Wells
The Gazettedenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 03:05:26 PM MSTDecember 22, 2012 11:14 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 04:14:53 PM MST

Police searched for three men who tried to rob a liquor store on north Academy Boulevard on Saturday morning.

Two of the men were heavily armed, one with a pistol-grip shotgun and the second with a long shotgun, said Sgt. Tony Erickson, who responded to the 9:42 a.m. call.

"They were masked and in there with shotguns," Erickson said. "Fortunately, the clerk was not at the counter, she was in the office and locked the door."

Not finding anyone to rob, the pair left Academy Boulevard Liquors, 1210 North Academy Blvd., and got into a dark-colored Toyota Camry behind the store driven by the third suspect and took off.

Read the complete story in The (Colorado Springs) Gazette.

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Judge declares land swap in Jefferson Parkway legal

Font ResizeColorado NewsBy Jordan Steffen
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 04:34:03 PM MSTDecember 22, 2012 11:37 PM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 04:37:42 PM MST

A federal judge ruled Friday that a controversial land exchange, and a critical next step in the creation of a high-speed toll road in Jefferson County, is legal and can be finalized before the end of the year.

The ruling upheld a December 2011 land exchange from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority, as part of completing the Jefferson Parkway. The three mile long, 300-foot wide strip of land sits along the eastern edge of the Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge.

In December 2011, the town of Superior filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging the land swap. Shortly after, the city of Golden and two environmental groups, WildEarth Guardians and Rocky Mountain Wild, joined the suit.

The lawsuit filed by Golden, which has long opposed the parkway, alleged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to complete adequate environmental reviews, unlawfully rejected Golden's separate application for the strip of land and failed to ensure that environmental effects of the parkway would be minimized.

"The judge's decision by no means completes the Jefferson Parkway," Golden Mayor Marjorie Sloan, said in a statement. "Proponents still have substantial hurdles, not least of which is securing taxpayer dollars to make the project financially viable."

Bill Ray, interim executive director of the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority, said the group will move into closing on the land exchange Dec. 31.

"It's been a year and I'm very appreciative of the fact that the decision is very clear, comprehensive and complete," Ray said. "This acquisition is one step of among many, upon many, to start construction."

Ray said it will be years before construction begins on the parkway.

"The real value of the judge's decision is that this acquirement of open space can go forward for the benefit of the entire north metro region," Ray said.

Jefferson County officials say the parkway is a crucial piece in completing a circular highway around Denver. The parkway would connect with Colorado 93 north of Golden and extend northeast through Jefferson County to connect with the existing E-470 near Broomfield.

Colorado 93 already connects with C-470 within the Golden city limits.

Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794, jsteffen

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Denver area can expect a White Christmas, with about 3 inches of snow

Font ResizeBusinessBy John Mossman
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 08:54:27 PM MSTDecember 23, 2012 3:59 AM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 08:59:42 PM MST
Colorado Weather

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Shoppers brave long lines, full parking lots before holiday

Font ResizeLocal NewsBy Jordan Steffen
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/22/2012 02:56:23 PM MSTDecember 23, 2012 5:0 AM GMTUpdated: 12/22/2012 10:00:35 PM MST


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Markets: The week that was 17-21/12/12

The US fiscal cliff played on investors' minds over the last five days, with the FTSE 100 unable to break out of a narrow range.

The FTSE 100 (UKX) started the week at 5921.76.

London's top index trod a downward course on Monday as corporate news disappointed and trepidation abounded concerning the ongoing US fiscal cliff discussions.

Stateside worries outweighed the news that fiscal interventionist Shinzo Abe had won the latest Japanese elections.

The slide was dominated by Aggreko (AGK), which lost more than a fifth of its market capitalisation, as it announced it would miss its year-end target by as much as

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Teens: Smoke, Don’t Drink?

Teens: Smoke, Don’t Drink? -Truthdig .column > div, .eartotheground > div, .uncovered > div, .report > div, .interview > div, .arts_culture > div, .avbooth > div, .dig > div, .cartoon > div, .podcast > div, .margin {padding: 10px 10px 20px 10px;margin: 0 0 0 0px;border-bottom: 1px dashed #999999;}/*\*//*/ @import "http://www.truthdig.com/?css=home/site_styles_mac.v.1314771156";/**/body div#share_footer {margin-bottom: 30px;}body div#instory_newsletter_signup {margin-top: 30px;}.nav {font-size:90%;} December 22, 2012
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  Teens: Smoke, Don’t Drink? Email    Print    Share

Tweet Posted on Dec 22, 2012 Torben Bjørn Hansen (CC BY 2.0)

Teens who drink alcohol are more likely to damage brain tissue than those who use marijuana, a new study shows.

Researchers at UC San Diego followed 92 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 20 for 18 months. During that time, half of the teens—who already had substantial histories of alcohol and marijuana intake—continued to use the substances in varying amounts. The other half abstained or consumed very little, just as they had before.

The before and after scans of teens who had five or more drinks per week showed a reduction in the health of white matter brain tissue, which could mean damage to memory, attention and decision-making abilities. The frequency of pot use—some participants smoked it as many as nine times a week during the study period—did not show a change in brain tissue health.

—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

The Huffington Post:

The researchers are not sure why alcohol had an effect and marijuana did not. They said the study results cannot be considered definitive without more research. They also said they do not know if the reduced brain tissue health is permanent.

Because the researchers followed the subjects for 18 months, they were able to at least partially monitor preexisting differences in the two groups. But Jacobus conceded that eliminating other factors—such as genetics, home environment, and even minimal use of other drugs—is very difficult.

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